Highway police off track

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Highway police unit was formed about three years ago to ensure round-the-clock vigilance on the highways, but the objective remains largely unmet due to acute shortage of logistic support.

The highway police department is operational apparently on papers now as its proposed organogram has halted thanks to red tape at the establishment ministry. Besides, its rules and regulations still await approval from the home ministry, said a top official at the Police Headquarters.

Since the mobile unit does not have an organogram, it cannot spend a coin to buy fuel for its own transport.

“Some of our police outposts are situated in so rundown buildings that we fear those may collapse anytime. But we cannot repair those or construct new structures as we have no funds,” said a top highway police official asking not to be identified.

“Although many highway outposts have space sufficient for four policemen, 20 personnel are living there,” said another highway police requesting anonymity. He said many of those are in so bad shape that rainwater trickles down during showers.

Sources say despite being an individual unit, highway police have to depend on the district police administration for fuel supply, repairing vehicles and getting other logistic supports.

The police HQ now allocates funds for the highway police through the offices of superintendent of police (SP) at district level. Officials of the force allege sometimes they have to waste much time to get the money from SP offices and even have to bribe staffs in this regard.

Sources say high-performance Nissan patrol jeeps provided for the force have been taken back for the use of top police officials. Those have been replaced by rundown pick-up vans almost unfit to run, the sources add.

However, a top official at the HQ argues that the Nissans have been taken back as those are unable to carry required number of personnel and for expensive maintenance.

When the new force was launched, it was announced that they will investigate all offences committed on the highways. Now they only investigate the cases filed in connection with road accidents.

The unit now suffers from serious transport, accommodation and food crisis. The top authorities did not provide them with the kinds of transport, housing and supports they were supposed to get.

This important unit was formed on June 11 in 2005 with proposed 24 highway police stations and 48 police outposts under a single command. It was divided into two regions — East and West. The East Region is bifurcated into four zones — Cox’s Bazar, Comilla, Bhairab and Gazipur — and the West Region into three — Bogra, Kushtia and Barisal.

The 2,042-strong force led by a deputy inspector general (DIG) is functioning with 76 jeeps, pick-up vans and microbuses, 151 motorcycles and only 40 walky-talkies.

Highway police officials say the vehicles and equipment are “miserably” insufficient.

Almost all the outposts and police stations are situated either at dilapidated Roads and Highways Department buildings or in rented houses. Very few others are housed at the police stations, which have now brought under the highway force.

Currently an outpost has one patrol vehicle by which they have to cover 60 kilometres which is almost an impossible task.

They don’t have wreckers to remove a vehicle if it is out of order on the road. Emergency medical facilities, toilets and restrooms were supposed to be established at the outposts, but the police personnel posted there don’t know when they will get these vital facilities.

The force has been entrusted with patrolling on highways, controlling traffic, enforcing traffic rules, ensuring order on highways, bus-tuck terminals, petrol pumps, toll plazas, bus stoppages and parking lots.

Besides, their job is to remove obstacles for movement of transports, ensure disciplines for road users and enforce traffic rules on them, ensure road safety, check offences on highways, submit prosecution under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1984 and carry out other duties vested on them by the government.

As the rules have yet to be enacted, highway police cannot investigate cases filed in connection with robbery, snatching and recovery of illegal items.

Though they are from the same police force, a policeman of similar rank from the concerned police station investigates the cases, leaving the highway cops, who enforce the law on the highways, in the dark.

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad told The Daily Star the rules and regulations will be enacted soon, while the organogram is being examined by the establishment ministry. “I hope those will be approved soon,” he said.

Highway police chief DIG Dr M Sadiqur Rahman said enactment of rules and regulations is at the final stage. It is awaiting approval at an inter-ministerial meeting to be held at the home ministry soon, he said.

They are trying their best to carry out their duties under the existing facilities, he added.

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